Doctors said that the brain disorder that forced Billy Joel to cancel his musical tour could cause a problem in walking and thinking straight – but it is often treatment and can be reversed.
Published on Instagram, 76 -year -old singer On Friday, he said that he was diagnosed recently by polarizing normal pressure and that the concert performances exacerbated the problems in “hearing, vision and balance.”
The case is relatively rare, according to Cleveland clinicThis affects “about 5.9 % of people over the age of 80.”
It is commonly diagnosed in the elderly, usually appears at the age of 70.
What is the natural pressure ascites?
The human body is constantly trying to maintain a fixed level of the sporadic fluid to expand the brain and spinal cord, either by making more or absorbing it.
This liquid tends to have a little more space in the elderly because the size of the brain shrinks as a natural part of the aging process.
He said, “But what happens in the naturalization of natural pressure is an abnormal accumulation of liquid that causes a functional imbalance in the brain due to the pressure it places on the brain,” he said.
What are the symptoms and how are they diagnosed?
Patients are often diagnosed after they see the doctor because they – or a family member – are concerned that they may develop dementia, and it is also more common with people’s progress.
Memory loss, bladder control problems and troublesome are also common. Patients can face a problem raising their feet, and exposing them to the risk of stumbling and falling.
The Holo said that doctors generally photograph the brain, either a CT scan or MRI, as well as a variety of nervous tests.
Doctors may also do a so -called cotton hole for excess fluid drainage. If a person’s symptoms improve, the condition is often diagnosed as a normal pressure, or NPH.
How is it dealt with?
Although the condition can look like dementia, there is a major difference: normal pressure is treated and in many cases it is reversed if it is arrested early.
Nerve surgeons usually plant ventricular conversion in the brain that helps to drain fluid accumulation in another part of the body, such as the abdomen, where it can be re -absorbed.
A medicine called acetazolamide can also be used, as it may help the body reduce the liquid level on its own. The Holo said that the drug is not working for everyone.
On Friday, it was not the kind of treatment that Joel would receive. His publication on social media said that the singer “is subject to specific physical therapy”, but he did not give details.
Doctors said this type of treatment is usually given, to help patients restore balance.
Any more effective treatment if a diagnosis is made quickly. Holo said that if the condition persists for a long time without deterrence, this may lead to permanent damage to the brain.
If a person seems to suffer from early signs such as annoying memory loss and difficulty walking, “they should see a preliminary care doctor or a neurologist for more investigation.”
